Obstructive sleep apnea (OBS) is one of the most common sleep disorders that significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Until now, it has been treated primarily as a problem resulting from anatomical structure and upper airway obstruction. However, a recent study authored by researchers at the Wroclaw University of Medical Sciences, in collaboration with researchers at the Ludwig Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy of the Polish Academy of Sciences, shows that OBS also has a significant neurobiological and genetic basis.
Sleep apnea without secrets. Groundbreaking research by Polish scientists
Published Sept. 19, 2025 11:00
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The study, published in the prestigious journal Annals of Medicine, shows that obstructive sleep apnea is closely linked to dopamine levels in the blood. It is one of the most important neurotransmitters in our body. It transmits signals between neurons, affecting our mood, energy levels, ability to concentrate, as well as sleep and wakefulness rhythms. It is also important
in motivational processes and in the feeling of pleasure. This is why it is often referred to as the "reward molecule." However, its effects are not limited to the mental sphere. Dopamine also regulates many physiological functions, including control of breathing and muscle tension, hence it has come under the magnifying glass of scientists.
- Our study is groundbreaking, which is why it was accepted for publication in such a prestigious journal," assures one of the authors, Prof. Mieszko Więckiewicz, head of the Department of Experimental Dentistry at the Wroclaw Medical University. - This is the first such comprehensive clinical study to document elevated dopamine
levels in obstructive sleep apnea, as well as the role of a specific gene polymorphism in potentially modulating the severity of the disease.
Nearly 300 people participated in the study by the Wroclaw researchers. In 153 of them, blood dopamine levels were determined - this group included 96 patients diagnosed with sleep apnea and 57 healthy volunteers. In the second part of the project, involving 286 people, the researchers focused on analyzing genes related to dopamine metabolism. Particular attention was paid to so-called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), i.e. small differences in genetic material that can affect gene function. Three of the most important were evaluated: COMT, which encodes the enzyme responsible for the breakdown of dopamine, and DRD1 and DRD2, which encode receptors that respond to this neurotransmitter.
It turned out that dopamine levels were markedly elevated in patients with OBS. This association was independent of other factors and was more common in men.
The researchers also found that one variant of the dopamine receptor gene (DRD2 rs1800497) could affect the course of the disease. People with this version of the gene were more likely to experience more severe symptoms, such as a higher number of apneic and shallow breathing episodes and arousals. This means that certain genetic predispositions could potentially increase the risk of developing OBS more severely.
According to the paper's authors, the results of the study are changing the way obstructive sleep apnea is viewed. It can't just be seen as a consequence of anatomical problems - it's also a disorder with a clear neurobiological and genetic basis.
- Our findings may change the way doctors and scientists look at sleep apnea," stresses Helena Martynowicz, MD, UMW professor. - We show that it's not just a problem with airway patency, but also with neurochemistry and genetics. This opens up a potential avenue for completely new methods of diagnosing and treating the disease.
- The results of this groundbreaking study make it possible to think about new diagnostic methods, adds Dr. Joanna Smardz. - Determination of dopamine levels in the blood and analysis of selected genes may
in the future complement the diagnostic gold standard, i.e. polysomnographic tests. Genetic testing, in turn, will identify patients at particular risk of severe disease course, which will enable faster implementation of therapy and more effective monitoring.
The therapeutic possibilities are equally promising.
- Modulating the dopaminergic pathway, for example with drugs that interact with the D2 receptor, could become an innovative adjunctive therapy for OBS patients, Professor Mieszko Więckiewicz predicts. - The integration of neuroscience, genetics and clinical practice makes this study an important step toward precision medicine in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
In the future, this could mean better-tailored diagnosis and treatment, and thus more effective help for patients and a marked improvement in their quality of life.
Source text:
Annals of Medicine, volume 57, The importance of dopamine levels and single-nucleotide polymorphisms within COMT, DRD1 and DRD2 genes in obstructive sleep apnoea, Joanna Smardz, Helena Martynowicz, Marta Dratwa-Kuzmin, Anna Wojakowska, Pawel Gac, Katarzyna Bogunia-Kubik & Mieszko Wieckiewicz
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